In the interest in not being one of those guys, I'm going to post this comment here. It was originally posted at Out of Left Field, a blog where I am a contributor.

As you may know, OOLF finished fifth in the voting for this.

My comments from there:Ok, I'll say it straight. Joy of Sox does what it does well. And, it clearly has readers. I hold no grudge towards them.

But, I just think that the best sports blog in Canada should actually write about Canadian things. We get U.S. sports up the wazoo here in the Canadian MSM. Blogs are about the margins (as Neate tries to teach me everyday). The Red Sox are pretty much center of the page in bold writing stuff.

Again...nothing against Joy of Sox. But, should a blog that's entire focus is on an American subject even be eligible to win a Canadian award? I have my opinion, but maybe I'm wrong...

Let me say this one more time. I have nothing against Joy of Sox. They deserved to win based on the rules of the competition as they stand today. We were never going to have a chance in this because we write about sports topics that are (sadly, in my opinion) really on the margins (junior hockey, CIS sport, Canadian soccer, etc.). I'm kind of stunned and proud that we have enough dedicated readers to even place fifth.

I did not mean this to turn into a pissing match, so I'm going to assume that you did not mean to be as snarky as that came of.

I agree. JoS deserved to win based on what thee award rules were. I said so already.

My issue has nothing to do with baseball. Clearly you've never read our blog if you think that was my issue (think about our name for a minute). The Red Sox are an American team playing in America with mostly American fans. They contribute primarily to the culture of New England. JoS is about the team, not about the experience of cheering for the Red Sox in Canada, nor is it about the sport in Canada in a general way. That's fine, and you do it well, but how does it contribute to our culture as Canadians or our shared dialogue?

If Radiohead recorded an album in Canada do you think it should win the Juno for best Canadian album? Same difference, in my opinion.

I poked around the CBA site for a minute or two. The 5th place winner in Culture/Entertainment is a music blog -- not Canadian music, just music (and recent posts suggest mostly music by American bands). Also, is there anything specifically Canadian about yarn or sewing?

Many of the first games I went to were at the Big O (1977-78) when I was 13-14. Vermont Transit had package deals that included bus fare and a ticket to the game, so I was able to go by myself. That's how I got to Fenway, too.

I poked around the CBA site for a minute or two. The 5th place winner in Culture/Entertainment is a music blog -- not Canadian music, just music (and recent posts suggest mostly music by American bands). Also, is there anything specifically Canadian about yarn or sewing?

The guy wants different awards, ones that he can score better in, no doubt.

Not that it's relevant, but I'm Canadian and I live in Canada. Tell me what a "Canadian thing" is? The CFL? Where there's a limit on foreign imports--otherwise few Canadian-born players would get a job. Hockey? Where the game has truly been internationalized (for the betterment of the game, I might add). Snow-machine racing? Sarah Palin kicks ass. Maple syrup making? The Joy of Sox is the best blog because Redsock uses his brain and puts a hell of a lot of thought into it, which his many readers appreciate. I'm sure if he wrote about the Winnepeg Blue Bombers he'd be equally effective. The fact that the Red Sox are popular throughout North America is a bonus. Please lose your Harperite wedge issue outlook, Mr. Rollins. Otherwise people might conclude that the only thing truly "Canadian" is whining about phony nationalism. There's a big world out here.

Allan is a person who lives in Canada. He does a blog. On the topic of his choice. It could be the "I hate Canada" blog and it would still be eligible. And if it got the most votes, he'd win. Seems fair to me.

I posted my thoughts here to be fair. I have not denigrated the ability of the author of the site in any way. I've stated my opinion in a clear and open way -- posting under my actual name, I might add -- in a place where there is little chance of anyone agreeing with me (you're readers of this blog. Of course you support it. The conversation would be different if it were at OOLF, don't you think). Would you have rather I posted somewhere where you couldn't have responded?

Sour grapes? I understand how you could think that. For the record, I think James Mirtle should have won, not us. He combines popularity with solid research and strong writing. And, he's been a major contributor to the Canadian blogosphere for many years (and, don't kid yourself, he would have killed us all if he had spent one second soliciting votes. His contacts are vast).

@ andy Out of left field guy is a jealous ass. That blog sucks. well it is better than 6th.

Way to stay classy. We have put up more than 3,500 posts in a little more than three years. We aren't the most read blog out there, but we are well read. We occasionally break stories. In the past four months alone, we've managed to have things we reported first picked up by the National Post, Globe and Mail, the Fan590 and the Toronto Star. If that's what you call suck, then fine. We suck.

@ L-girlThe guy wants different awards, ones that he can score better in, no doubt.

I do not make assumptions about what you "want." Please do not make assumptions about what I want. We don't know each other. For the record, what I want is criteria that actually allows for quality to be awarded over just popularity and networking. And, I want the person that carries the banner of being the best Canadian sports blog to be a little more inclusive of Canadian sports fans. JoS won with, what, 300 votes? Even we get twice as many readers in a single day. Tell me how this vote is even remotely reflective of what Canadian sports fans think.

@ Woti-wotiTell me what a "Canadian thing" is?

It's not about any single sport. It certainly isn't about hockey (FWIW it's likely the sport we cover the least ). The sport that I write the most about is soccer. I'm not sure you can get more international than it. What it is about is writing about whatever it is that you are writing about in a way that comes from a Canadian perspective -- something that speaks to a view of sports that is unique to this country. To be frank, this blog reads like it could be written anywhere in the world. I say that not as an attack on its quality, but rather as a claim that it simply isn't Canadian. It's just a blog (a good blog) about the Boston Red Sox written by a guy that lives in Toronto. I'm not sure that's what the awards should be recognizing. And wanting to promote Canadian culture (which is what I believe sports to be) is hardly "whining." I think it's a bit sad, and to be frank, self-hating that you feel that way. There is value in our sports stories and traditions. Something that calls itself the Canadian blog awards should understand and appreciate that, I would think.

@ Jere

I agree. He does deserve to win. I've repeatedly said so...based on the criteria currently set. It's my position that the criteria is flawed and that there should be a requirement that a significant amount of the content should be Canadian. I have brought it up at the awards site, where I've received some support and some disagreement.

Finally, @ redsox

You're right. You can write whatever you please in this space. But, if you are going to put that banner up, do you not think that it might not be nice to be a little more inclusive. At the very least would it be too much to ask that you link some of the better Blue Jays/Canadian baseball blogs as well as some general Canadian baseball links? That would seem like a small compromise that would acknowledge your "Canadian-ness."

Tell me how this vote is even remotely reflective of what Canadian sports fans think.

How about the fact that it's a Canadian blog, written by a Canadian sports fan in Canada, voted on in the Canadian blog awards?

That would seem like a small compromise that would acknowledge your "Canadian-ness."

So there's something that defines Canadian-ness for you better than moving to Canada, living in Canada, and applying for Canadian citizenship? What will you say when that citizenship is actually received -- that he's not "really" Canadian because he was born elsewhere?

So there's something that defines Canadian-ness for you better than moving to Canada, living in Canada, and applying for Canadian citizenship? What will you say when that citizenship is actually received -- that he's not "really" Canadian because he was born elsewhere?

I've never once brought up whether the author feels Canadian or acts Canadian in his daily life. I have most certainly not said, implied or even though that he's not "really" Canadian because he was born elsewhere. And, I don't much appreciate what you are implying, especially since I doubt M@ is on your birth certificate. If you are going to suggest that I, essentially, hold racist views, sign your post, OK.

On this blog he doesn't write about Canadian things. Period. Since I don't know him, and I can't read anyone's mind, I can't possibly say what he thinks or feels about his new country, can I?

But, I can read what he writes. And, he writes exclusively about the Boston Red Sox. A professional baseball team that plays in New England.

I've never once brought up whether the author feels Canadian or acts Canadian in his daily life. I have most certainly not said, implied or even though that he's not "really" Canadian because he was born elsewhere.

So we agree then -- it's a Canadian blog because it's written by a Canadian living in Canada? That sounds like a qualifying blog to me -- meaning that the basis for your complaint is that this Canadian blog doesn't concern Canadian things.

Except that it's written by a Canadian in Canada, and is also read by many other Canadians (certainly by many who voted in the CBA). So it's of interest to them, too. I guess you're not in the majority in having a problem with it.

don't much appreciate what you are implying, especially since I doubt M@ is on your birth certificate. If you are going to suggest that I, essentially, hold racist views, sign your post, OK.

It should be quite clear that my implication was that you have some definition of what is Canadian that happens to be personally convenient for you. Nothing to do with racism at all.

My full name and e-mail address are readily available in my Blogger account, and have been there since I opened the account -- feel free to click through and check it out for yourself.

So in order to be eligible for the Award a sports blog must also conform to a mission of promoting Canadian culture? And those who believe that this mission is nebulous and maybe even pointless are self-hating? Like numerous other posters here have noted, you're taking this issue up with the wrong people. Young man, there are times in life when I can only shake my head and walk away. See ya.

As Redsock pointed out earlier, is yarn Canadian? Do you feel Yarn Harlot should not have won her category - which she did by a landslide - because she writes about yarn and knitting, not specifically Canadian yarn and Canadian knitting (whatver that would mean!)?

Since I don't know him, and I can't read anyone's mind, I can't possibly say what he thinks or feels about his new country, can I?

He chose Canada. He made a conscious decision to go through the exepnsive, time-consuming and life-changing experience of leaving the country of his birth and adopting a new country. That might give you a clue.

You, on the other hand, are (apparently) Canadian because that's where your mother resided when she gave birth to you.

You, on the other hand, are (apparently) Canadian because that's where your mother resided when she gave birth to you.

Seriously, don't put words in my mouth. I would think that a self-proclaimed progressive would understand how offensive and unfair that is.

All of my comments are directed towards the content . of this site. I'm not the one that's taking things into the realm of the personal (until commentators here told me I had NO IDEA that he was originally from the U.S.). I have repeatedly stated that I do not pretend to to know what motivates redsock, nor do I have an appreciation of how Canadian he feels. AGAIN, my comments are only directed towards what he chooses to write on this site. That's it. Based on what I see here I don't see much evidence that redsock has any interest in Canadian sport or Canadian baseball. He's a Red Sox fan.

As for where I'm posting...I still can't understand why it's wrong to be upfront about something. How would it have been better to not allow redsock to know that I was challenging the validity of his win? Why is it wrong for me to state my opinion directly to him on his own blog in a space that was bound to be hostile towards me (rather than go somewhere to complain about it where I would have an audience that agrees with me)?

This is a culture issue for me. Having a blog that only talks about a big, rich American baseball team be declared Canada's best sports blog is offensive to me. Redsock himself is not. I'm sure if we met under different circumstances we would get along quite well. We might even talk about some of those great battles between the Jays and the Sox in the late 80s. The fact that I think that his blog shouldn't be eligible to win a Canadian blog award has nothing to do with what I think about him as a person.

I'm staying out of this for the most part, but it's an entertaining side story while we discuss Jeemer's marathon time.

As for where I'm posting...I still can't understand why it's wrong to be upfront about something.

It's not wrong ... but people will respond.

How would it have been better to not allow redsock to know that I was challenging the validity of his win?

"Challenging the validity"? Is there a formal grievance committee over at the CBAs? Is there really a process whereby one can challenge the results of the voting?

Why is it wrong for me to state my opinion directly to him on his own blog in a space that was bound to be hostile towards me (rather than go somewhere to complain about it where I would have an audience that agrees with me)?

It's not wrong. No one is saying it's wrong (I think). But a lot of what you wrote sounds like sour grapes. It just does whether you meant to sound that way or not. (Man, what if you had finished a close 2nd? Yikes.)

How I would have been handled this:

Emailed Saskboy privately or written a comment in the post announcing the winner. That's it. (In fact, that's exactly what I did about the blog connected to Microsoft.)

I never thought of emailing the blog to complain about its inclusion. What would be the point? That blogger, like me, has no control over the CBA rules.

When you don't like the fact that your local store sells Brand X cereal, you complain to the store. You don't go emailing the president of Brand X and tell him his own product should not be on the store's shelves.

I think that his blog shouldn't be eligible to win a Canadian blog award

You know, if you had brought up the eligibility during the nomination process, you probably would have had some reason to complain. Bringing it up now, when the blog has (resoundingly) won the category, just sounds like sour grapes. And posting your sour grapes attitude on the blog itself makes you sound like a very poor loser. I'm thinking you're not attracting many new readers this way.

By the way, an e-mail to the CBA administrators giving them your thoughts on the matter and suggestions for next year would have been the mature thing to do.

Based on what I see here I don't see much evidence that redsock has any interest in Canadian sport or Canadian baseball.

Not that it matters:

I guess you missed these twoposts, both from this past September. I also sponsor George Kottaras's BR page.

I was thrilled with Adam "the Babe Ruth of Canada" Stern's performance in the 2006 WBC against the US (and posted about it here).

We refer to home runs as "dongs" here. When Jason Bay hits a home run, we call it a "doung". See? Canadian spelling!

Plus I'm in that (very) small group of people who actually enjoyed watching baseball games at Olympic Stadium. I went several times as a teenager in the late 70s and the greatest game I ever saw in person happened there.

I believe the biggest strength of the blogosphere is that it promotes dialogue. That's why I posted here.

So now we know the answer to that question.

Maybe it's just me, but I see very little dialogue going on here. You make a point, other people counter it, you make the same point again, other people counter it again, you make the same point again. And so on.

Well, to be fair, I guess that's dialogue of a sort. It won't be the first off-topic conversation we've had at JoS, and it is the off-season.